Category: News

For many people, the holiday season is a joyful time when loved ones gather to celebrate together. It can be a time of sharing, reconnecting, and often larger groups—and sometimes commotion. However, for families affected by dementia, this time of year can be particularly challenging. It’s essential to adapt your holiday celebrations so they’re enjoyable and comfortable for all. Below, we offer you a few tips to create a festive and inclusive atmosphere for everyone during the holidays.

Create a Festive yet Calm Space

Decorating your home for the holidays is a cherished tradition for most, but for those living with dementia, decorations can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing. Here are a few ideas for creating a calm and comfortable environment.

• Get Your Loved One Involved: Include your family member with dementia in the decorating process as it might bring back fond memories. Keep decorations simple and avoid overwhelming displays.
• Safety First: Be mindful of potential safety hazards. Avoid burning candles and fragile decorations that can easily be reached. 
• Soothing Sounds: Play familiar holiday music at a relaxing volume to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Ask your loved ones which songs they enjoy most. 

Adapt Your Holiday Activities

To ensure an enjoyable holiday season, consider adapting your usual holiday activities to meet your loved one’s needs. 

• Prepare Together: Engage in activities like decorating cookies, opening holiday cards, or creating simple decorations. Focus on the process and be mindful of every moment. 
• Small Gatherings: Host intimate gatherings to maintain a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.
• Timing Matters: Plan holiday events at the best time of day for your loved one as keeping their daily routines intact is very helpful. 
• Quiet Spaces: If hosting guests, provide a quiet area for your loved one to retreat to when needed. Consider one-on-one visits instead of larger groups.
• Meaningful Activities: Engage in meaningful activities like reading a favorite holiday story, reminiscing over photo albums, or watching their favorite holiday movies.
• Short Outings: Keep outings brief, whether attending a gathering or going shopping. Plan for rest breaks if necessary.

Adjusting Travel Plans

If traveling to visit loved ones during the holidays, you can still do so with some preparation and realistic expectations.

• Maintain Routine: Keep your loved one’s daily routine in mind when making travel plans.
• Direct Routes: Plan for the most direct travel route, minimizing layovers if possible, and keeping travel to four hours or less.
• Identification: Ensure your loved one wears an identification bracelet with contact information in case of separation.
• Time Buffer: Allow extra time during your travels to accommodate unexpected situations and minimize stress.

Closing Thoughts

The holiday season can be a joyous time for everyone, including your family member with dementia, especially if you plan ahead. Simplify your celebrations and set boundaries to minimize stress so you can create a pleasant holiday experience for all. 

Sopris Lodge’s Memory Care Program

At Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living, we understand the unique challenges that dementia can present, especially during the holiday season. Our Day Retreat at the Lodge and Memory Care Community are designed to provide specialized care and support to residents with memory impairments. With a team of dedicated professionals, we create a safe and nurturing environment that fosters well-being and encourages engagement. Our goal is for families and residents to enjoy the holiday season with peace of mind.

If you have questions or need assistance in providing the best possible holiday experience for your loved one, feel free to contact the team at Sopris Lodge or call 970-340-4460. We’re here to help you make this season memorable and full of love and understanding.

When families are navigating life with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other memory loss conditions at home, it can be a challenge. It’s important for caregivers to get the proper resources and education so that everyone is supported in this difficult journey.

At Sopris Lodge, our goal is to always be a resource for families and members of the local community as they explore their options in supporting a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. That’s why we provide programming opportunities and offer a monthly support group to help those searching for the best memory care community. Through ongoing lectures with industry experts, sponsored talks with the Alzheimer’s Association®, and caregiver support groups, our retirement community strives to provide memory care resources to families, partners, and other caregivers.

Caregiver Support Group

To better support families and spouses of a loved one living with progressive dementia, we recently created a monthly Memory Care Support Group. A member of our leadership team recently became a certified facilitator through the Alzheimer’s Association and these groups meet on the second Tuesday of every month.

Events & Sponsorship Opportunities

To further support those with a loved one experiencing memory loss, Sopris Lodge hosts educational presentations led by dementia care experts from various organizations. We regularly partner with Community Educators from the Alzheimer’s Association to offer discussions covering topics about understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia, how to respond to dementia-related behaviors and effective ways of communicating with a loved one experiencing memory loss. These events are always free and open to the public.

And in September, we will assemble the Sopris Lodge Squad team of walkers to participate in the Rocky Mountain Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, which helps raise funds to support research efforts and discover methods of treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In fact, we’re hosting a silent auction at our upcoming Seniors Resource Fair benefiting the organization. Sopris Lodge is proud to sponsor this annual event once again.

Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living offers independent and assisted living, memory support, respite care, and day retreat services. Call 970-340-4460 or contact us online if you have questions about our memory care community or would like to attend one of our upcoming events.

Caring for those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia requires specialized training to understand how those individuals experience the world. As part of Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living’s commitment to resident care and employee development, team members across departments completed an interactive dementia training program to help understand the challenges people living with cognitive impairment face.

The Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT) program was created by P.K. Beville, founder of Second Wind Dreams, a nonprofit organization based in Roswell, Georgia. It is used in memory care communities and organizations worldwide to give caregivers, families, and health providers a better understanding of the physical and mental challenges faced by those living with memory loss. A VDT replicates common issues seniors encounter daily, including discomfort when walking or standing, loss of hand-eye coordination/dexterity, and glaucoma. Not only do older adults living with dementia deal with these age-related issues, but they may also be sensitive to loud noises and experience short and long-term memory loss.

Sopris Lodge at Carbondale team members participating in the dementia sensitivity training program put on headphones that muffle hearing and intermittently play loud distracting noises like sirens or a telephone ringing. They also wore special glasses to distort their vision, large bulky gloves to inhibit their hands, and had a prickly device inserted in their shoes. With their hearing, vision, hands, and feet altered, team members tried to navigate a typical memory care residence and were asked to complete simple tasks like folding a towel or filling a glass with water.

After Sopris Lodge team members completed their virtual dementia tour, they met to discuss their experiences.

“Not seeing or hearing clearly and being startled by loud noises was disorienting and difficult to manage,” said Marie Herr, executive director at Sopris Lodge. “Most of us could not remember or complete the simple tasks given,” she added.

According to Herr, loud noises like the alarm set to detect when a resident attempts to leave the memory care neighborhood unaccompanied or the noises of a busy kitchen can cause people with cognitive impairment to feel anxious and fearful. She said the VDT training was especially helpful for team members who may not work in the memory care community to understand how disruptive noise is for people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“The virtual dementia tour emphasized how the noise of daily life can be difficult for people living with dementia. It was an important reminder to always use a soothing and calm tone of voice, which can help memory care residents who may become anxious about what’s happening around them,” said Herr.

Our goal at Sopris Lodge is to be a resource for families and the local community as they explore their options in supporting a loved one with memory loss. That’s why our retirement community invests in the latest technology, provides continuing education for employees, and offers programming opportunities with industry experts to help those searching for the best memory support program.

Sopris Lodge at Carbondale Senior Living offers memory care, assisted living and independent living, and respite care services. Call 970-678-0057 or visit soprislodge.com if you have questions about our memory care community or would like to speak with one of our dementia care experts.

What is assisted living? At senior living communities like Sopris Lodge at Carbondale, assisted living offers a variety of housing options and personalized supportive services designed to help seniors thrive independently, along with access to safe, comfortable surroundings, friendly peers and caring team members, healthy, chef-prepared meals, and a schedule of stimulating events and activities.

Seniors who receive this level of care can communicate their needs but typically require help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, medication management, mobility, cooking, or cleaning.

Let’s take some common misconceptions about assisted living and debunk them one by one.

Myth #1: I’ll lose my independence

Assisted living residents don’t typically need around-the-clock help, but at most senior living communities, services and amenities are available, if needed, to ensure residents enjoy a simplified, maintenance-free lifestyle. Sopris Lodge at Carbondale offers 23 private assisted living residences with access to household services for every need, including housekeeping, maintenance, laundry, and concierge services. Residents who prefer a break from the kitchen or need help with cooking have access to three nutritious, gourmet meals daily, served restaurant-style in our dining room. We also offer scheduled transportation to nearby points of interest and medical appointments so residents can venture off campus when desired.

Myth #2: Assisted living = Nursing home

Assisted living services are designed to keep seniors actively engaged for as long as possible while living as independently as possible. Assisted living services help residents—and their loved ones—have peace of mind knowing that professionally trained team members are on hand 24/7 if their health needs change.

Myth #3: I can’t enjoy my favorite hobbies

Assisted living’s hassle-free lifestyle allows seniors more time, energy, and freedom to exercise their independence and pursue the activities and interests they most enjoy. Most senior living communities offer an array of daily activities and opportunities for residents to socialize and engage like painting, playing board games, going to live musical performances, daily exercise, cooking classes, and educational forums. Sopris Lodge at Carbondale has an array of campus amenities, including a fitness room, library, and media center. Residents also enjoy our on-site greenhouse, hot tub, courtyard, patios, and outdoor dining areas.

Myth #4: I’ll be lonely

Assisted living residents have access to communal spaces that encourage socialization and residents are invited to join groups and campus clubs to help them meet people, including peers and local service providers. At Sopris Lodge at Carbondale, we organize scheduled social events and have a robust activities calendar, providing plenty of opportunities for residents to make new connections with friends and neighbors.

Want to learn more about Sopris Lodge at Carbondale’s supportive assisted living services? Give us a call at 970-340-4460 or schedule a tour online.

When it comes time to talk with a loved one about assisted living, the way you go about it will determine if the conversation goes well. Downsizing from a house full of memories, leaving a familiar neighborhood, fearing the loss of autonomy and control of their lives can make many seniors hesitant to even discuss the subject. Allowing them to voice their concerns rather than being dismissive of them and being a good listener when you bring up the topic will help make it a positive conversation.

Getting the Conversation Started

It’s best to broach the subject of assisted living well before your loved ones need it. Try mentioning it in casual conversation by asking if they have thought about it or are considering it for the future. Ask open-ended questions and really listen to what your loved one has to say about how they see their lives in the next two, five, or ten years.

Don’t be surprised if the first attempt at discussing assisted living is rebuffed and even met with resentment. If that is the case, drop the subject and give it time before you bring it up again. An opportunity may prevent itself to restart the conversation if your mom falls and sprains her wrist or your dad complains about the endless chores involved with maintaining the house.

Unless your senior loved one’s situation is urgent, keep in mind the saying, “patience is a virtue” and don’t press them into talking about or making a big life decision like moving into assisted living if it will cause hurt feelings or anger.

Have Some Prepared Responses

When your loved one is ready to talk about assisted living have some prepared responses if they express doubts about their finances, losing their independence, or leaving a familiar place.

Offer to go with them to speak with a financial adviser who specializes in helping seniors prepare for the transition to assisted living. Having a professional lay it out for them will be helpful in their decision-making process.

If they are worried about losing their freedom point out how liberating it will be to not have constant home-upkeep to manage or endless lists of chores for cooking and cleaning. Muse with them about how they can use their free time to pursue their hobbies, try new things, and focus on doing the things they enjoy instead. Remind them they deserve to be unburdened by heavy responsibilities and focus on what they really like to do.

If they are worried about leaving a familiar place offer to join them on a tour of Sopris Lodge at Carbondale so they can see what the living accommodations look like, all that our menu has to offer, and the fun activities we have scheduled like live entertainment, scenic outings, educational lectures, and more. This will give them an opportunity to meet and talk to residents already living and thriving here.

Keep It Positive

Always emphasize the positive when it comes to their decision regarding assisted living. Offer support and be a sympathetic listener as they work through their concerns about it. Keep reminding them it’s their turn to focus on having fun pursuing their hobbies and interests with new friends and experience the things they’ve never had time for.

If you would like to learn more about independent living, assisted living, or memory care, we’re here for you as a resource and glad to answer your questions. For a personalized tour, visit soprislodge.com or call us at 970-340-4460 and let your loved ones see for themselves all our community has to offer.

A healthy, collaborative conversation between aging parents and adult children about senior living options begins with everyone sitting down at the table, talking about quality of life issues, learning about different types of senior communities, exploring the lifestyles offered by each — and doing it together.

A good senior living community provides care when needed, a vibrant social calendar, a sense of encouraging both independence and peace of mind, ample opportunity to socialize with peers, more time spent enjoying life, and less time on home maintenance.

If you are considering a conversation about a move, these steps will help you start the conversation off on the right foot.

Evaluate the Situation

Changes in older adults’ health needs, mobility, or cognition can impact their personal safety and their ability to handle household responsibilities. If this is the case, a move to senior living could be a good solution for everyone.

Prepare for the Conversation

During your conversation, have as much relevant information on hand as you can, like which communities have apartments available, whether all-inclusive pricing options exist, and which communities can fulfill certain care needs.

Involve Everyone

Always follow the parents’ lead in the conversation! While adult children may recognize signs it’s time for a move, it’s essential that everyone be on board as much as possible. Ideally, both adult children and their parents can have a say in the final decision, which will ultimately make everyone feel more secure.

Offer Help to Decide

Adult children and their parents should work together to make a pros and cons list for moving versus staying at home; this may help put things in perspective financially, practically, and emotionally. Together, you can discuss priorities and explore a range of communities while identifying options and benefits.

Visit Communities Together

Visiting a senior living community together is a key part of the decision process. Explore different options in person and get a feel for what life is like. If the older adult has a friend in senior living, try setting up a visit with them, or contact a community to book a personal tour.

When having this conversation, be sure to gather all the necessary facts and information about communities of interest and think of the additional points you want to know more about. And most of all, be sure to visit a variety of senior living communities in person!

At Sopris Lodge at Carbondale, we help families find the best living situation to meet their loved one’s needs. Call 970-251-1708 or contact us online if you have questions about assisted living or memory care or would like to schedule a personalized tour.

For over half a century, researchers have focused on the importance of community and a sense of belonging as factors boosting human health. Social connections are essential for health and well-being at all ages, but experts have found they are especially important for promoting health in later life. In a bad news, good news situation, we can’t avoid declines in physical, sensory, and cognitive function as we age. That’s the bad news. On the flip side, social functioning remains malleable and can expand as we age – in other words, social connections in later life are strengths that can boost mental health and well-being.

Why do social connections matter? The list is long, including disease prevention, fewer physical health problems, longevity, improved cognitive function, better self-esteem, purpose in life, and a sense of belonging—especially powerful for older adults.

It turns out, people who are confident with their place in the world are less likely to question their faith and beliefs, providing stronger spiritual health. This sense of belonging is so important that seniors who have that sense report their health as higher than those who have a lower sense of community—regardless of their actual state of health.

Over the last two years, the pandemic has reminded those of us in senior living how important social connections—and being part of a community—are to well-being. Even when we had to stay “socially distant,” the residents in our community remained connected, even if just to open the apartment door and participate in a sing-along, visit with team members throughout the day, or connect with family and friends via Zoom, Skype or Facetime, which we helped to facilitate.

As things “open up” again and people return for tours, we have heard the same thing from many of our prospective residents and their families – being home alone just wasn’t working. The National Institute on Aging estimates three out of 10 American seniors live alone, and the pandemic left many too isolated and without social connection.

Seniors Staying Connected

Yes, we agree that social connections are important. Even the American Public Health Association highlights that socialization improves mood, cognition, memory recall, and is associated with healthy behaviors, including exercise. But as we age it can be more challenging as friends and family may pass away, physical limitations make it harder to get out and visit, and busy families are often caught up in their own lives. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to connect with others socially, but older adults have to be proactive in seeking out these opportunities. Here are some ideas for seniors:

• Exercise classes and walking groups
• Happy hours and group outings
• Regular phone calls and video conferences with friends and family
• Bingo or card games
• Billiards, darts and other parlor games
• Fitness and other health classes
• Attending lectures at senior living communities (usually free!)
• Join a support group
• Organize a coffee group to talk sports, current events, or knitting, whatever feeds your fancy

As a WellAge Senior Living community, Sopris Lodge at Carbondale spends a lot of time and energy coordinating events, clubs, and activities for residents living with us. Residents can decide what they want to partake in, but the bottom line is they have choices to connect socially. Even the introverts who enjoy a good book in their suite for most of the day love to see their neighbors at dinner. We have dedicated team members whose job is to organize the social events – and get folks involved. If you’d like to learn more, give us a call as we like to think of ourselves as a resource to local seniors and families.

Considering a move to senior living for yourself or a loved one? Call 970-340-4460 or contact us online to learn how Sopris Lodge at Carbondale helps foster socialization and keep seniors connected.